Missouri Code of State Regulations
Title 20 - DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INSURANCE
Division 4240 - Public Service Commission
Chapter 20 - Electric Utilities
Section 20 CSR 4240-20.065 - Net Metering
Universal Citation: 20 MO Code of State Regs 4240-20.065
Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, March 15, 2024
PURPOSE: This amendment simplifies and improves rules by streamlining and eliminating duplicative requirements and provides clarity language.
(1) Definitions.
(A) Terms defined in 386.890, RSMo shall have
the same meaning for purposes of this rule, unless further defined in this
rule. Terms defined in
20 CSR
4240-20.100 shall have the same meaning for purposes
of this rule.
(B) Avoided fuel
cost means the incremental costs to the electric utility of electric energy,
but for the purchase from the customer-generator, the utility would generate
itself or purchase from another source. Avoided fuel cost is used to calculate
the electric utility's standard rate for purchase from systems less than one
hundred (100) kilowatts pursuant to
20 CSR
4240-20.060. The information used to calculate this
rate is provided to the commission biennially and maintained for public
inspection
(C) Customer-generator
means the owner or operator of a qualified electric energy generation unit that
meets all of the following criteria:
1. Is
powered by a renewable energy resource;
2. Is an electrical generating system with a
capacity of not more than one hundred kilowatts (100 kW);
3. Is located on premises that are owned,
operated, leased, or otherwise controlled by the customer-generator;
4. Is interconnected and operates in parallel
phase and synchronization with an electric utility and has been approved for
interconnection by said electric utility;
5. Is intended primarily to offset part or
all of the customer-generator's own electrical energy requirements;
6. Meets all applicable safety, performance,
interconnection, and reliability standards established by the National
Electrical Code, the National Electrical Safety Code, the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Underwriters Laboratories, the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, and any local governing authorities; and
7. Contains a mechanism that
automatically disables the unit and interrupts the flow of electricity onto the
electric utility's electrical lines whenever the flow of electricity to the
customer-generator is interrupted.
(D) Distribution system means facilities for the
distribution of electric energy to the ultimate consumer thereof.
(E) Electric utility means every electrical
corporation as defined in section
386.020(15),
RSMo, subject to commission regulation pursuant to Chapter 393, RSMo
(F) Operational means all of the major
components of the on-site system have been purchased and installed on the
customer-generator's premises and the production of rated net electrical
generation has been measured by the electric utility. If a customer has
satisfied all of the System Completion Requirements by June 30 of indicated
years, but the electric utility is not able to complete all of the company's
steps needed to establish an Operational Date on or before June 30, the rebate
rate will be determined as though the Operational Date was June 30. If it is
subsequently determined that the customer of the system did not satisfy all
Completion Requirements required of the customer on or before June 30, the
rebate rate will be determined based on the Operational Date.
(2) Applicability. This rule applies to electric utilities and customer-generators.
(3) Electric Utility Obligations.
(A) In addition to the Electric Utility
Obligations set forth in section
386.890,
RSMo, the Electric Utility shall describe in its tariffs the calculation of net
electrical energy measurement.
(4) Customer-Generator Liability Insurance Obligation.
(A) Customer-generator systems greater than
ten kilowatts (10 kW) shall carry no less than one hundred thousand dollars
($100,000) of liability insurance, unless for good cause shown, that provides
for coverage of all risk of liability for personal injuries (including death)
and damage to property arising out of or caused by the operation of the net
metering unit. Insurance may be in the form of an existing policy or an
endorsement on an existing policy.
(B) Customer-generator systems ten kilowatts
(10 kW) or less shall not be required to carry liability insurance.
(5) Qualified Electric Customer-Generator Obligations.
(A) Each
qualified electric energy generation unit used by a customer-generator shall
meet all applicable safety, performance, interconnection, and reliability
standards established by any local code authorities, the National Electrical
Code, the National Electrical Safety Code, the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for
distributed generation; including, IEEE 1547a-2014, UL 1703-2002, and UL
1741-2010.
(B) The electric utility
may require that a customer-generator's system contain a switch, circuit
breaker, fuse, or other easily accessible device or feature located in
immediate proximity to the customer- generator's metering equipment that would
allow an electric utility worker the ability to manually and instantly
disconnect the unit from the electric utility's distribution system.
(C) No customer shall connect or operate an
electric generation unit in parallel phase and synchronization with any
electric utility without written approval by said electric utility that all of
the requirements under subsection (7)(A) of this rule have been met. For a
customer-generator who violates this provision, an electric utility may
immediately and without notice disconnect the electric facilities of said
customer-generator and terminate said customer-generator's electric
service.
(D) A customer-generator's
facility shall be equipped with sufficient metering equipment that can measure
the net amount of electrical energy produced and consumed by the
customer-generator. If the customer-generator's existing meter equipment does
not meet these requirements or if it is necessary for the electric utility to
install additional distribution equipment to accommodate the
customer-generator's facility, the customer-generator shall reimburse the
electric utility for the costs to purchase and install the necessary additional
equipment. At the request of the customer-generator, such costs may be
initially paid for by the electric utility, and any amount up to the total
costs and a reasonable interest charge may be recovered from the
customer-generator over the course of up to twelve (12) billing cycles. Any
subsequent meter testing, maintenance, or meter equipment change necessitated
by the customer-generator shall be paid for by the
customer-generator.
(E) Each
customer-generator shall, at least once every year, conduct a test to confirm
that the net metering unit automatically ceases to energize the output
(interconnection equipment output voltage goes to zero (0)) within two (2)
seconds of being disconnected from the electric utility's system. Disconnecting
the net metering unit from the electric utility's electric system at the
visible disconnect switch and measuring the time required for the unit to cease
to energize the output shall satisfy this test.
(F) The customer-generator shall maintain a
record of the results of these tests and, upon request, shall provide a copy of
the test results to the electric utility.
1.
If the customer-generator is unable to provide a copy of the test results upon
request, the electric utility shall notify the customer-generator by mail that
the customer-generator has thirty (30) days from the date the
customer-generator receives the request to provide the results of a test to the
electric utility.
2. If the
customer-generator's equipment ever fails this test, the customer-generator
shall immediately disconnect the net metering unit.
3. If the customer-generator does not provide
the results of a test to the electric utility within thirty (30) days of
receiving a request from the electric utility or the results of the test
provided to the electric utility show that the unit is not functioning
correctly, the electric utility may immediately disconnect the net metering
unit.
4. The net metering unit
shall not be reconnected to the electric utility's electrical system by the
customer-generator until the net metering unit is repaired and operating in a
normal and safe manner.
(6) Net Metering Rates. Each electric utility shall file on or before January 15 of each odd-numbered year for the commission's approval in the electric utility's tariff, a rate schedule with a net metering rate that is the same rate as the utility's cogeneration rate. The electric utility's cogeneration rate is filed for the commission's approval in the electric utility's tariff on or before January 15 of every odd-numbered year as required in 20 CSR 4240-3.155 Requirements for Electric Utility Cogeneration Tariff Filings section (4). The cogeneration rate is stated in dollars per kilowatt-hour or cents per kilowatthour on the cogeneration rate tariff sheet and, likewise, the net metering rate shall be stated in dollars per kilowatt-hour or cents per kilowatt-hour on the net metering rate tariff sheet.
(7) Interconnection Application.
(A) Each
customer-generator and electric utility shall enter into the interconnection
agreement included herein.
1. The
interconnection application shall include a signature page for the customer and
solar installer to indicate acknowledgment of the entire interconnection
application. It is permissible to sign the signature page with an electronic
signature.
2. If the electric
utility so chooses, it may allow customers to apply electronically through the
electric utility's website.
A. The
interconnection application on the electric utility's website shall
substantially be the same as the interconnection application included
herein.
B. The electronic
application shall be submitted, or made available in test mode, to the manager
of the Energy Unit of the staff Page 1924 Orders of Rulemaking for review by
staff prior to being placed on the electric utility's website.
C. The electric utility shall notify the
manager of the Energy Unit of the staff of any revisions to the electronic
application on its website within ten (10) working days of when the electronic
application is revised.
(8) Annual Net Metering Report. Each year prior to April 15, every electric utility shall-
(A)
Submit an annual net metering report to the commission, including the following
information for the previous calendar year:
1.
The total number of customer-generator facilities connected to its distribution
system;
2. The total estimated
generating capacity of customer-generators that are connected to its
distribution system; and
3. The
total estimated net kilowatt-hours received from customer-generators.
(B) Supply to the manager of the
energy department of the commission a copy of the standard information
regarding net metering and interconnection requirements provided to customers
or posted on the electric utility's website;
(C) Verify compliance with 10 CSR
4240-20.060(11)(C) 1. for customer-generator systems; and
(D) As soon as reasonably possible after the
electric utility files its annual net metering report, the commission will
place the electronic copies of each electric utility's annual net metering
reports on the commission's website in order to facilitate public viewing, as
appropriate.
(9) As soon as reasonably possible after the electric utility files its annual net metering report, the commission will place the electronic copies of each electric utility's annual net metering reports on the commission's website in order to facilitate public viewing, as appropriate.
*Original authority: 386.250, RSMo 1939, amended 1963, 1967, 1977, 1980, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996 and 386.890, RSMo 2007.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Missouri may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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